Returning home today

A few days ago, in my last post before we zipped off on holiday, I mentioned that we'd be returning home on September 11th, however, having so enjoyed overnighting part of the way through our journey to Edmonton, we decided while there to do the same on the way home.

Though not technically the halfway mark - or even really that close to it - between Edmonton and Penticton, we settled on a city that I love with every fiber of my being, Calgary, for a quick pit stop last night before heading back out on the road this morning.

Getting to see my favourite Canadian city (okay, technically it shares that spot with Victoria, BC, which I adore equally so, though often for different reasons) , even just for a few hours, is always A-okay with me and I'm grateful for the opportunity to do so on this final leg of our trip.

A little later in the morning today, we'll be packing up our car once and for all on this holiday and settling in for the eight (plus a bit more with the occasion rest stop) hour drive from Calgary to Penticton.



{The start of fall's changing landscape and many a long stretch of open road await Tony and I as we head home from Alberta today. I really enjoy lengthy drives, so am quite looking forward to this one - especially with the first jewel toned autumn leaves starting to appear around us. Vintage image source.}


We'll get into Penticton this evening after twelve wonderful days of travelling. Though the weather wasn't always ideal (the first few days in Alberta were unseasonably cold and rainy), we managed to get in numerous outfit shots and I'll be sharing each of those with you in the coming weeks and months.

I know that many of the details of my first ever trip to Edmonton will unfold organically in those posts, so I don't want to recap too much right now, but I will say that we had a really lovely time on our trip.

Edmonton is a fascinating and beautiful city of over a million people. Within hours of being inside of its farmland flanked borders, I was struck by how much it made me think of what a place might be like, were it possible for Vancouver (minus the Pacific Ocean) and Calgary had a child, with elements of Toronto swirled into the mix, too.

Like most locations that one has long wanted to visit, it was both very similar and somewhat different from how I'd imagined it to be - and that's a good thing, if you ask me. I love it when a town or city surprises and delights me - and perhaps most of all, when it leaves me wanting to return again, which Edmonton most certainly did.

Over all we had a great, fun filled time in Edmonton that included multiple meetups with fellow vintage folks (some of whom will appear in the aforementioned future outfit posts), lots of sightseeing, some shopping (vintage and otherwise), exciting rural countryside exploring, peaceful walks, and plenty of fun photo opps along the way.

I wholeheartedly want to thank all of you who have left blog comments on recent posts during my absence, very much including those on the three fantastic guest posts from Nicole, Elizabeth, and Tanith, respectively, that appeared here last week. I know that each of those talented ladies appreciates your kind comments a great deal and I can't thank them enough as well for helping to keep things buzzing here while we were on holiday.

Aside from starting to unpack, it will be back to life and work from tomorrow onwards, very much including on the blogging front. There will be new posts coming down the pipeline this week (and of course, beyond then, too) and I fully expect to be back to my regular online ways in full force this week.

To give you a taste of what's to come here on Chronically Vintage in the near future, I'll be blogging about topics as diverse as my time spent with The Travelling Dress, shining the spotlight on dozens (seriously!) of recipes for one of fall's most classic and beloved ingredients, telling you about my all-time favourite fictional couple, and starting to write up a storm on all things Halloween related, while also sharing plenty of outfit posts and the latest entries in the fun ongoing Meet a Fellow Vintage Blogger series, amongst lots of other exciting topics.

No time of the year speaks to my soul as much as autumn, nor does any season light my blogging fires quite as much, so you can bank on an action packed, engaging, informative, and just plain cheerful slew of posts here on Chronically Vintage this autumn (coupled with, I hope/plan, a bevy of recently acquired new vintage and antique items appearing on the shelves of my Etsy shop).

A point that will be bolstered along all the more by the recharging of my batteries and clarity of mind that came with our lovely trip to Edmonton this month.

Travel, as I've talked about before (in posts such as this), always houses many wonderful blessings and surprises, and having a chance to unwind and, at the same time, plan for the future while away is most definitely one of the very best of these.

5 summer into fall perfect vintage comfort food recipes

This past week has been a bit of a bumpy ride for me as a result of the routine medical procedure (mentioned here) that I had at the hospital last Monday. I have a follow-up doctor's appointment later this week to find out more about how it went and what the next course of action will be in regards to the particular chronic illness of mine that such was for, and that's weighing on my mind a fair bit at the moment.

I'm always an optimist though, and after fourteen years of being a multiple severe chronic illness fighter, I've been down similar - and much worse - paths many a time before, so I'm just thinking positively, hoping for the best, and reminding myself that anything can be tackled in one way or another.

Thankfully I've had our upcoming trip to Edmonton to help divert my thoughts from my health this month and that has been quite a blessing for sure. And this past weekend, I took a stab at answering the 40 Random Beauty Questions tag here, which was oodles of (distracting) fun as well.

Before delving further into today's post, I wholeheartedly want to thank all of you who have left caring blog comments and/or sent well wish filled emails my way in recent days. They truly mean so much to me.

While last week wasn't a ton of fun and this week won't likely be worlds better, I really am doing positively and can feel my body recovering more and more from last Monday's procedure with each passing day. Thus, I expect this week to be "life as usual" on all blogging fronts.

As we head into the final month of summer and the weather is starting to shift (we had, for example, some pounding rain and strong wind here last night that felt and sounded more like November, than August!), many of us are starting to rouse our ovens from hibernation and are thinking to hearty, delicious comfort foods once more.

Between the season and the fact that I'm in recovery mode right now on the health front, comfort foods are definitely on my mind as we kick off the second to last week of August. As such, I wanted to share a fun little selection of five different mid-century vintage comfort food dishes I've come across lately online that all fit that bill for me.

Of course what constitutes a comfort food will differ for each of us and there are probably dozens, if not hundreds, of recipes that I'd put under that header myself.

These five have common elements that are often seen as being part and parcel for a comfort dish (such as simmering, baking, or fragrant, inviting aromas), and as they suit the tail end of summer and certainly all of the fall (and winter) awesomely, I thought that today would be a great time to share them here with all of you.



1. Bold, flavourful, and a cinch to multiple as many times over as you need, Chili con Carne is a fabulous dish that, arguably, tastes even better a day or two after it was made. If you're not a meat eater or simply prefer your chili without the carne, ditch it and up the quantity of beans (or a vegetarian/vegan ground meat substitute) instead.

This particular chili recipe calls for Campbell’s Tomato Soup, but of course it can be made with tomato sauce or even simmered (diced) stewed tomatoes instead, if you’d prefer.

Though not overly traditional, I'm also partial to adding some sweet bell pepper to my chilli as well. And on the toppings front, sour cream and a sharp cheddar or Monetary Jack cheese are musts for me. It's hard to go wrong, too, with a hefty slab of corn bread served up on the side.



2. One of the very first things that I rush head first for the moment we start to get even the tiniest hint that fall is on its way again, is pumpkin (canned, fresh and frozen alike). Each year I make up at least one or two classic spiced pumpkin cakes or batches of cupcakes (on top of other pumpkin standards like pie, muffins, and soup) and they have become a lovely family tradition around our home (we always invite my folks 'round to tuck into such with us).

This delightful Pumpkin Cake recipe from 1948 is somewhat similar to the (albeit it GF and EF) version that I make, though I add more spices, including a couple teaspoons of cinnamon, and frost mine with a rich cream cheese icing.

Pumpkin Cake is an awesome, beautifully scented dessert and one that I find compliments nearly any autumn time meal to a tee.




3. Another fabulous vintage dish that lends itself to being multiplied is the classic Swedish Meatball. Easily, made, too, if so desired with alternative ground meats such as turkey, chicken, or (lean) pork, Swedish Meatballs are great as appetizers, starters, or as the heart of a meal itself.

If opting for the latter, they're especially nice served on a bed of hot buttered rice, noodles, (cooked) spaghetti squash, or fluffy mashed potatoes. They also freeze wonderfully, which makes them a great choice for busy fall evenings when you might not have time to prepare dinner from scratch.



4. There's just something about the scent of bread baking that fills the soul with comfort and happiness. It's almost a primal feeling for many of us, as we knowing that this glorious smell has indicated that nourishing subsistence was coming humanity's way for thousands of years now.

Today’s bread recipe isn't quite that ancient, but it is a few decades old and calls for the inclusion of a hearty breakfast cereal that dates all the way back to 1897.

This quick, easy and delicious recipe for Grape-Nut Bread is a wonderful a base for savoury or sweet toppings alike, and is wonderful enjoyed on its own, too - perhaps with a steaming mug of pumpkin spice latte, spiced apple cider, or hot cocoa.



5. As touched on a time or two before here over the years (such as in this 2014's vintage recipe post for Honey Pound Cake - itself a marvelous yesteryear comfort food), I know that raisins aren't exactly everyone's cup of tea.

If, however, like me, you flip for them, then this recipe for a classic - and, IMO, far too infrequently seen these days - Raisin Pie is bound to have you swooning up a storm.

I love raisin pie so much, I'd say it's in my top ten (or perhaps even top five) favourite pies of all-time. Sometimes I'll make it with a mix of regular raisins (like those here) and golden sultans, too, and frequently dish slices of this awesome pie up with a generous scoop of vanilla, butterscotch ripple, or cinnamon ice cream.



{To learn more about a specific vintage recipe image used in today's post, please click on it to be taken to its respective source.}

♥ ♥ ♥

Though you could of course serve all five of these dishes together as part of one big meal, you certainly do not have to in the slightest (aka, this list isn't a menu plan per se, just a fun assortment of lovely, stick-to-your ribs mid-century foods).

Each of them shines on its own and can usually be modified/adapted to suit your tastes and/or dietary needs, as required (save perhaps if you need to make the Grape-Nut Bread GF, as Grape-Nuts themselves contain scads of gluten; in that case, I'd probably make a similar style of GF bread using real chopped nuts and/or a similar style of gluten-free breakfast cereal, such as Crunchy Flax from the brand Enjoy Life, instead).

Over the years I've shared quite a few other vintage comfort food posts here as well. So definitely check out the vintage recipes section for scads more ideas on that front, if you are looking to put together a larger meal, dinner party, or holiday feast, or would simply like some further old school culinary inspiration.

While the past few days haven't been the best ever for me, it's wonderful to have so many things in my life - from the gift of sweet online friends to our upcoming travels to the fact that fall is just around the corner - to help keep my spirits up, no matter what the universe throws my way.

When the seasons start to change hands once more and a familiar nip returns to the air, what are some of your favourite - vintage or contemporary - comfort foods to whip up for these gorgeous, all-too-short days of summer into autumn?

Halloween 2015 Edition of Flickr Favourites

{Lighting the Jack O' Lantern ~ Paul Malon}






{Burlington Hosiery, September 1959 ~ The Bee's Knees Daily}  


{Moon & Ominous Clouds ~ Lost My Headache}



{Halloween decorations ~ Kath in the Cupboard}



{Vintage Halloween Postcard ~ Susan Criser}



{Closed factory chemistry lab detail ~ Pedro Domingos}



{2010 Halloween Honeys ~ Missy}

{Vintage Halloween Parties ~ Old Halloween}

 

{Halloween kitten ~ Marie's Shots}



{Vintage Halloween Postcard ~ Rip The Skull}

{All images above are from Flickr. To learn more about a specific image, please click on its title to be taken to its respective Flickr page.}

♥ ♥ ♥


Oohhh, how I've eagerly come to look forward to penning the Halloween edition of Flickr Favourites each year! There are so many marvelously festive images to be had on that huge communal photo (and illustration) sharing site and this year's crop of All Hallows Eve ones is amongst my favourites highlighted in this post to date.

Halloween is always incredibly special to me - and many others the world over, too - but when it falls on Saturday, as it does this year, I can't help but adore it even more, because I'm reminded of the unbridled fun of my youth, when a Saturday Halloween meant that you could spend every moment of the day from dawn to midnight focused on the big day night itself - and without having to think about school the next day to boot!

It's been a long, long time since I was last a student, but I still get every bit as giddy about Halloween. The classroom parties of yore are a distant memory, but not the celebrations I (we) host every October 31st at our house for loved ones.

Costumes, scrumptious foods complete with more sugar than you shake an autumn leaf covered stick at all, handing out candy to trick-or-treaters, watching festive movies (camping, not scary, for me, please and thank you!) very much including my all-time favourite Halloween flick, Disney's Hocus Pocus, and listing to festive music all in a house decorated in no shortage of seasonal accoutrements, are all still the same sorts of things as back when I was little and I know that these treasured elements of Halloween will never change for me.

They are to that day as presents, turkey, and Christmas carols are to December 25th, which - wow - come to think of it, is precisely two months away. Fabulous as that season is unto itself, I'm in no hurry to get there yet. At least not until November 1st, when the Halloween decorations come down the Christmas season plans and decorating start in earnest shortly thereafter.

Nope, right here, right now, it's all about the cobwebs and scarecrows, candy apples and merriment of this fabulously festive autumn celebration. These playfully eerie elements will always, no matter if I live to be a hundred years old, bring out the kid in me and make me delight, in much as the same way as I did when I was knee high to pumpkin, over the spooky fun that All Hallows Eve!

What are you looking forward to this Halloween, my sweet dears?

New clothes and old habits

Outfit details

C. 1950s brown felt hat with wooden toggle: Purchased from a fellow vintage blogger
Faux pearl stud earrings: Claire’s
Mustard yellow button front shirt: Thrifted (originally from Ricki's)
Pearl necklace: Birthday gift from Tony ♥
Burgundy cardigan: Mexx
C. 1950s/1960s brown wooden circle brooch: Thrifted
Faux pearl stretch bracelets: Super store
Burgundy plastic beaded stretch bracelet: Thrifted (Value Village)
1950s/1960s mustard yellow and pink paisley circle skirt: Red Light Vintage
Lace trimmed white crinoline (not visible): Petticoat Style 1950s taupe gloves: Unknown, had for years (probably eBay)
C. 1970s - 80s wooden beaded handbag: Thrifted (Value Village)
Nude seamed nude stockings: eBay
Burgundy faux suede pumps: Payless
Lip colour: MAC Party Line
Photography by Tony Cangiano  

♥ ♥ ♥

Before launching into today's post, I must give credit to Tony, whose photography skills shone especially brightly on the day these images were taken. You might not sense if fully from the photos here, but the wind and light that day were flat out bonkers! This shoot now ranks amongst the top three windiest we've ever done and the light was the sort where it changes ever few seconds. Even with this potential impediments from Mother Nature in place, Tony still managed to capture a slew of beautiful photos and I sincerely thank him for that.

Occasionally over the years I've spoken here - and on YouTube - about the fact that I have rather bad teeth. They're massive crowded and crocked (some of which is hidden by my lips, especially on the bottom row), unattractive looking, and four back ones are missing (pulled in my youth because things like root canals could not be afforded). I was teased mercilessly throughout school because of them, know for a fact that they didn't help my dating life when I was single, and continue to feel the various negative ways in which they impact me to this day.

I'm not here to delve into all that again really (and certainly am not pitying myself), but it warrants saying because today, for only the second time ever (as far as I can recall) in my blog's 6.5 years of life, I am not only showing you my teeth (or at least how they look when I try to smile with them showing - I say "try" because I genuinely don't know how to naturally smile with them flashing, as I have spent my whole life trying to cover them up as much as possible, including by usually smiling with my lips closed), but doing so intentionally.

It struck me a while ago that I was already doing just this on YouTube when I speak there, so why keep my mouth closed on camera, too? Why? There are so many reasons for me, some of which I've just touched on, but ultimately, I have accepted this is who I am and how I look. I hope with every fiber of my being to have the financial means to give my mouth a serious overhaul one day, but thus far in my 31 years of life that that hasn't been possible (and likely won’t be for a while to come still).

The older I get, the more I continue to work on building my self-confidence and making peace with the present. As such, I wanted to be brave and smile with my teeth showing in this shoot - and who knows - perhaps in other photos as time goes on as well. Is it a beautiful smile? Goodness, no, but it's the only one I've got and that certainly counts for something.

Now, on to the new - clothes that is!!! Though not intentionally planned, it occurred to me as I was sorting through these photos that vast majority of what I'm wearing in them has been purchased throughout 2015.

This gorgeous 1950s/1960s mustard yellow, pink and burgundy circle skirt is the most recent acquisition, picked up from Etsy seller Red Light Vintage during a recent sale in that shop. The colours in it are amongst my favourite ever and I knew that my first outfit featuring this skirt needed to pull from them.

The yellow button front shirt (which is sleeveless and great for spring - early fall) was a thrifted find back around the start of July. The delightful little 50s felt pillbox-esque hat was purchased a few months ago from a fellow vintage blogger, and the shoes were bought new from Payless this past August (I'd wanted a classic pair of pumps in burgundy for...well...ever! And was elated to score these this year).

The other elements of this ensemble - the jewelry, gloves, beaded handbag, stockings, and burgundy cardigan are all older, but no less important to the over all look here and I must say, I just adore how this colour palette came together. It is so rich, feminine, and ideally suited to the very month that we're in: October.





We took these (very wind blown!) snaps on one of our favourite streets in (the nearby city of) Kelowna, which happens to have some historic homes on it, so naturally I couldn't help but pose in front of one of the most beautiful. This elegant abode is called the J.W. Jones House and is currently used by a law office. Isn't it a stunner? The wrap around front porch slays me every time I see it.

It's great when new and old can collide like that to create something wonderful like this outfit - or, in the case of my teeth, help one continue to grow and better accept themselves, even when doing so is quite the personal challenge.

So while you might not see me flashing my crocked pearly whites in every photos shoot hence forth, don't be surprised if they pop up every now and then. Old habits - like not smiling with them showing - might die hard, but they can indeed be laid to rest and it is my sincere hope that this post will help me do just that when it comes working up the nerve to smile in front of the lens.

Judging and providing prizes for Emily's awesome fall vintage fashion contest

This autumn I have the great honour and pleasure of being involved with my good friend Emily - from the stellar vintage + historical sewing blog, Emily's Vintage Visions - first ever vintage fall fashion contest.

This past spring Emily held a similar fashion contest using vintage write ups from mid-century newspapers as the jumping off point for contests to garner inspiration for their looks from and it was a roaring success, so she decided to hold the same sort of contest again this season, just with a fall touch to it.

Emily very kindly tapped both myself and Lauren from Wearing History to help her judge the entries and to provide prizes for the winner and a second place runner up as well. I thrilled to be involved on each count and can hardly wait to see all of the entries that folks submit. This contest is open to participants worldwide and you can find out all of the details regarding how to enter in this official contest announcement post on Emily's blog.

The first place winner will receive the following prizes:

-Vintage Related Goodies Bag Plus $30 in Store Credit from Emily's Vintage Visions

-Beautiful Collection of Autumn Themed Accessories from Chronically Vintage (see below)

-Vintage Sewing Goodies Bag Plus $30 in Store Credit from Wearing History

The runner up will receive the following prizes:

-Vintage Related Goodies Bag Plus $25 in Store Credit from Emily's Vintage Visions

-$20 in Store Credit from Wearing History

-$30 in Store Credit from Chronically Vintage

The first place prize pack that I'm providing includes the following items:

-1950s/60s peach and brown polka dot scarf with rolled hem

-C. 1950s brown net triangle shaped head scarf (great for keeping the wind from ruining your hair or for wrapping over curlers)

-C. 1950s white and yellow millinery flower "crown" (one would attach it with bobby pins)

-Original early 1930s photo of a man and two women in winter coats (on the back it says Niagara Falls, NY, Feb 1931)

-Vintage (probably 70s) Cooking with Kellogg's recipe booklet

-3 different autumn hued mid-century "fakelite" plastic bangle bracelets

-Mid-century thick copper chain bracelet

-Fairly long c. 1930s black Czech glass bead and gold/brass toned metal spacer bead necklace

-1950s/1960s green and gold hued plastic beaded necklace

-1950s/60s silvery-gold hued metal and orange rhinestone bow brooch

-1950s gold tone metal maple leaf sweater guard (chain)

-C. 1940s green plastic leaf/feather screw back earrings

-1950s (signed) Coro silvery-gold metal and orange rhinestone leaf clip-on earrings

-Plus, not pictured, a pair of vintage gloves if I have one in the winner's size, or if not, they can choice from either either another scarf or a piece of jewelry that I'll pick out myself (and try to keep fall-ish, too).

♥ ♥ ♥

I strongly encourage you to check out this fabulously cool vintage fall fashion contest and to enter (entries can be submitted up to, and including on, October 18, 2015 - with the winner being selected and announced shortly thereafter).

This is such a creative, fresh idea in the vintage blogging community and one that can land you some seriously great prizes! Way to go, Emily, on coming up with these exciting vintage fashion contests!

Embracing the return of fall's gorgeous colour palette at Vaseux Lake

Outfit details

C. 1930s/40s burgundy felt hat with netting: Garb-Oh Vintage
Creamy white plastic rose stud earrings: Claire's
C. 1940s black plastic hat pin: From another hat that I've had for years
Mid-century vintage amber hued plastic beaded necklace: Thrifted (Salvation Army)
White Stag brand vintage appropriate green floral blouse: Thrifted (Value Village)
Amber yellow plastic bangle bracelet: Unknown, had for years (probably thrifted)
1940s/1950s dark green corduroy skirt: eBay
C. 1980s - 90s brown woven belt: Thrifted (Value Village, if memory serves me right)
Oxblood/burgundy hued faux leather cross body bag: eBay
Nude seamed nude stockings: eBay
Brown 1940s style faux leather pumps: Walmart
Lip colour: MAC Party Line


Photography by Tony Cangiano

♥ ♥ ♥

My passion for autumn's resplendent hues is scarcely the kind of secret that one keeps under lock and key. I wait with baited breath for my favourite season to return each year and then jump headfirst in spotting itss palette with gusto!

Summer cooled its heels early this year and we had the nippiest - relatively speaking - Labour Day weekend that I can remember in many years. Whereas most first weeks of September still see countless tourists and residents alike flocking to catch some rays and frolic in the waves at the local beaches, this time around, nary a soul was in the water - it was just too chilly to comfortably swim any longer.

Thankfully though, the weather did perk back up a bit as September progressed and bestowed upon us some deeply gorgeous Goldilocks days, as I like to call them. Those gloriously sunny, soft light filled, subtly warm and all too fleeting days as autumn not-so-subtly waltzes into town and usurps summer.

It was on just such a day that Tony and I captured this gently lit series of photos recently at Vaseux Lake, a modest sized body of water some 25 - 30 minutes south of our town. Though not as prized as a swimming hole as some of the other larger lakes around this part (such as Okanagan and Shaka), it is a breeding ground for local anglers - my husband very much included - who flock to its shores for some terrific local fishing.

We were neither there to swim nor cast our lines, but rather simply paused to enjoy the immense serenity and sweeping beauty of the pristine natural landscape and the near still-as-glass surface of the lake that afternoon.


I woke up in a mood to pair three of my all-time favourite colours, which just happen to be from fall's palette, together and did just that in this burgundy, pine green, and amber yellow hued 1940s inspired ensemble.

Though I wear this fabulous 1940s/50s dark green corduroy skirt often, I hadn't sported it here on my blog for close to 3.5 years, so I felt it was high time to give it a spin on camera again.


It as the starting point for my causal ensemble, which saw the edition of a breathtaking c. 1930s/40s burgundy felt hat hat I purchased earlier this year from the awesome Etsy shop that is Garb-Oh Vintage, along with a timelessly lovely floral print cotton shirt that I thrifted several months ago, a classic brown woven belt (also thrifted), a vintage appropriate oxblood/burgundy hued faux leather cross body bag, mid-century plastic jewelry in amber yellow, my go-to creamy white plastic rose stud earrings, and a pair of 1940s looking brown faux leather pumps that I've had for years, but which are still - knock wood - holding up fabulously well.


Now that Tony is home (not that I couldn't do such on my own, of course, but it is certainly easier with him there), I thought it would be fun to film a new YouTube video outside again, and did just that later in the day (up a hill near where my folks live here in town, not at Vaseux Lake), in this (relatively) quick breakdown of what went into styling my 1940s inspired early fall look.





Though I wasn't aiming for the much adored vintage lady explorer look her per se, I can't help but love that this ensemble has a faint hint of that vibe. I've been wearing this general silhouette - long vintage skirt, button front blouse, modest to wide brimmed vintage hat, and complimentary accessories - big time this summer and fall and really feel like it sums up my tastes in vintage casual fashion massively well at the moment.

As we head further into autumn, I'm sure that I'll keep sporting this silhouette and imagine that it will see me through winter, with tights and further layers added, too. It's comfortable, warm, classic and endlessly versatile - not mention pretty. What's not to adore?

With fall being my favourite time of the year and its palette my most beloved of all the seasons, you can bet this there will be many more autumnal hued ensembles coming down the pipeline in the very near future. I can hardly wait to share many of them with you and am equally excited to see all of the stellar fall looks that you'll be sharing on your blogs and social media.

Autumn may be fleeting, but its hues are eternal and well worth celebrating with our fashion choices while they're in their seasonal element!